Porch-curtain.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

J. G. WILSON.

PORCH CURTAIN.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTA. 1904.

WITNESSES INVENTO R No. 789,19 I.

Eatented May 9, 19L 5.

PATENT @FFIQE.

JAMES C. WILSON, OF VVATERTOWN, NEW YORK PORCH-CURTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,194, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed September 1, 1904:- Serial No. 223,010.

To ztZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES C. WVILsoN, of VVatertown, in the county of Jefferson and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Porch or Storm Curtains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

My invention relates to an improvement in curtains, and while the following specification will refer to the curtain as applied to a porch the invention is equally applicable for use on boats or any other structure where awnings may be advantageously used. Hence while I have referred in the specification to the parts of a porch I wish it distinctlyunderstood that the terms are intended to comprehend and include the corresponding parts of a boat or other structure to which the awning or ourtain may be attached.

The object of the invention is to provide a curtain or awning for the purpose stated which can be readily applied to any porch, boat, or like structure and which can be easily raised and lowered.

A further object is to provide a storm curtain or awning which will not only protect the floor of a porch, deck of a boat, or floor of a like structure from the effects of the Weather, but which will also cover the railing at the front edge of the porch, boat, or like structure.

With these ends in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 is an outside view in elevation of my improved storm curtain or awning. Fig. 2 is an inside view of same. Fig. 3 is a view in vertical section on the line 00 a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a detached view of one of the combined turnbuckles and cleats.

1 represents the floor of a porch; 2, the roof-supporting columns; 3, the roof, and 4 the railing connecting the columns 2.

The curtain 5 may be of any sultable material and is secured at its upper end or top to the ceiling or roof 3 in any desired manner and through the medium of any of the well-known devices employed for such purposes. The length of the curtain and apron 6 thereof is regulated by the height of the porch or the distance between the floor and ceiling; but in order to obtain the best results with my invention I prefer that the curtain shall be of such length that when in its extended position it Will not be more than two feet above the floor and that the apron 6 thereof shall extend a short distance below the floor-level of the porch, and thus shield the porch from the sun and absolutely prevent the entrance of water on the floor of the porch during storm periods. This apron 6, as will be seen, is permanently secured at its upper or top edge to curtain 5 and when the latter is lowered is adapted to pass over, cover, and protect the railing 4: of the porch, and as the weighted end of said apron extends well below the porch-floor it will be apparent that the entrance of water thereon is absolutely prevented and a dry porch assured at all times.

Apron 6 is provided at its bottom edge with a pocket or hem 7 for the reception of bar 8, and as this bar extends from side to side of the apron it will be seen that any tendency on the part of the latter to wrinkle or buckle, due to pressure of the wind thereon, will be prevented, as said bar will maintain the apron in a straight and smooth condition. To each end of rod 8 is secured a chain or other suitable fastening device 9 for securing the clepending end of apron 6 to suitable means carried by the base of the porch.

In a casing or hem 10, formed in the bottom of curtain 5, bar 11 is located, to which is secured the lower ends of ropes 12 12 1212..

Each of these ropes pass upwardly through a series of alining rings or other equivalent devices 13, attached to the inner face or surface of the curtain, thence through pulleys 14:, secured to the porch-ceiling directly in line with its series of rings, from which points they extend along said ceiling parallel with the curtain through pulleys 15, terminating in a rigid connection with the upper end of hand-rope 16, through the medium of which the curtain is raised and lowered in the well-known manner. It will of course be understood that apron 6 is raised simultaneously with the curtain by ropes 23, each of which is attached at its lower end to rod 8. These ropes are arranged as shown in the drawings and are operated by the hand-rope 16.

To the outside of each edge of curtain 5 is located a guide-rod .17, the upper end of which is fastened to the ceiling of the porch, while the lower end thereof is secured to the upper end of a combined turnbuckle and cleat 18, carried by the floor of the porch. By thus attaching the lower end of the guide-rods any slack can be readily taken care of by the turnbuckles. Mounted on the guide-rods are guiding-sleeves 19, which latter are carried by the respective ends of rod 11 and are adapted to slide up and down said rod when the curtain is raised and lowered. In addition to these guiding-sleeves the side edges of curtain 5 are provided at suitable points between its top and bottom with snap-hooks 20 for engaging the guiderods 17. These snap-hooks, in connection with the guiding-sleeves 19, firmly support the curtain against all strains to which it is subjected, assists in guiding the curtain during both its ascent and descent, supports the curtain in a smooth condition, and tends to prevent the curtain from being raised or lowered in an uneven manner.

To each end of bar 11 is attached a fastening device 21, by means of which curtain 5 when in its lowered position is fastened to the cleats 522 of the turnbuckles.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangements of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A curtain provided with an apron to cover a rail, said apron attached to the body of the curtain above its lower end, raising devices attached at the lower end of the curtain and raising devices attached at the lower end of the apron.

2. A curtain comprising two members constructed to inclose a rail between them, separate raising devices for each of said members, and means for operating both of said raising devices simultaneously.

3. Acurtain comprising two members constructed at their lower portions to embrace a rail, raising-cords for each of said members, the raising-cords for the outer member passing through the other member, and means whereby allof said raising-cords can be operated simultaneously.

4. The combination with a structure having a rail, of a curtain constructed to terminate at its lower end at the inner side of said rail, and a rail-covering apron attached to the outer face of said curtain above its lower end and constructed to cover said rail.

5. The combination with a structure having a rail, and vertical guide-rods attached to said structure, of a curtain attached to said structure and provided with guide-loops to run on said guide-rods, a rail-covering apron attached to said curtain and arranged to overhang and cover said rail and means for raising said curtain and its apron.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES 0. WILSON. Witnesses:

J. ROUBIE, GEORGE T. CARD. 

